Diascia plant named ‘Balwingarn’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Diascia  plant named ‘Balwingarn’, characterized by its dark red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright and spreading growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Diascia×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balwingarn ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant botanically known as Diascia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balwingarn’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during December 2002. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Diascia cultivars with continuous flowering, medium green-colored foliage, and well-branched, upright and spreading growth habit.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Diascia×hybrida breeding selection designated 3406-1-3, not patented, characterized by its large coral-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and upright spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Diascia×hybrida breeding selection designated 3409-5-3, not patented, characterized by its red-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and upright spreading growth habit. The new Diascia was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during March 2003 in a controlled environment at Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since March 2003 at Guadalupe, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balwingarn’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant:

-   -   1. Dark red-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright and spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color.

Of the many commercially available Diascia cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Balwhiscran’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,498. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balwhiscran’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a foliage color different         from plants of ‘Balwhiscran’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves than plants of         ‘Balwhiscran’.     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Balwhiscran’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balwingarn’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 7 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balwingarn’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of two individual flowers of ‘Balwingarn’ showing variation in flower color from first open (on left) to fully mature (on right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Oct. 19, 2005 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 62° F. to 75° F. (17° C. to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 52° F. to 60° F. (11° C. to 15° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 5,000 to 8,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Diascia×hybrida cultivar Balwingarn. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Diascia×hybrida breeding             selection designated 3406-1-3, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Diascia×hybrida breeding selection             designated 3409-5-3, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a rotted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             upright and spreading.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 20.6 cm. Width: Approximately 45.6 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching improves             branching. Approximately 12 branches per plant with lateral             branches potentially forming at every node.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section.             Length: Approximately 29.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.1 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144A. Internode length at             center of branch: Approximately 2.8 cm.         -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 8.             Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.             Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem and leaf blade             is at an obtuse angle to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin:             Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate. Venation pattern:             Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 3.0 cm. Width             of mature leaf: Approximately 2.2 cm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of mature             foliage: Closest to 146A with venation of N144C. Color of             lower surface of mature foliage: 138B with venation of             N144C. Petiole length: Approximately 4.3 mm. Petiole             diameter: Approximately 1.7 mm. Petiole texture: Glabrous.             Petiole color: N144C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balwingarn’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 9 weeks from sticking of             an unrooted cutting.         -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 4 to 5 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Solitary, five lobed and zygomorphic. Arrangement:             Terminal racemes. Quantity per plant: Approximately 100 at 7             weeks. Fragrance: None.         -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovate. Length: Approximately             5.8 mm. Width: Approximately 6.3 mm. Texture:             Stipulate-glandular. Color of upper surface: 184C. Color of             lower surface: 188A. Gland color: N186B.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Ovate. Width: Approximately 1.8 cm. Length:             Approximately 1.7 cm. Depth: Approximately 7.0 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5 fused at base with upper and lateral             petals forming spurs. Shape: Obovate. Aspect: Downward             turning at edges. Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire.         -   Two upper petals.—Apex: Broadly acute. Length: Approximately             6.7 mm. Width: Approximately 3.7 mm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely             stipulate-glandular. Gland color. N186B. Color of upper and             lower surfaces: 184C when fully open, darkening to 187B with             senscence. Length of indentation at base: Approximately             3.2 mm. Width of indentation at base: Approximately 3.3 mm.             Color of indentation at base: 14A, somewhat translucent.         -   Two lateral petals.—Apex: Broadly acute. Length:             Approximately 8.2 mm. Width: Approximately 5.8 mm. Texture             of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper and             lower surfaces: 184C when fully open, darkening to 187B with             senescence.         -   Single lower petal.—Apex: Obtuse. Length: Approximately             1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces:             184C when fully open, darkening to 187B with senescence.         -   Nectar spur.—Quantity: 2 per flower. Length: Approximately             7.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 2.8 mm. Diameter at             tip: Approximately 1.6 mm. Texture: Sparsely             stipulate-glandular. Color: 183B. Gland color: N186B.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Moderate. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately             0.3 mm. Texture: Stipulate-glandular. Color: 144A. Gland             color: N186B.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Five-pointed star. Width: Approximately             7.0 mm. Length: Approximately 4.8 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Length: Approximately 2.6 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.1 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower or outer surface:             Stipulate-glandular. Color of both surfaces: Closest to             144A. Gland color: N186B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4.             Filament length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Anther shape:             Bilobed. Anther length: Approximately 0.5 mm. Anther color:             1D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 1A. Gynoecium:             Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistil length:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma length: Approximately 0.5 mm.             Stigma color: 144B. Style length: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Style color: N144D. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.5 mm.             Ovary color: N144C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Diascia has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant named ‘Balwingarn’, substantially as herein shown and described. 